Abstract
BackgroundFestival drug-related deaths are a growing public health concern.AimTo examine drug use and related harm-reduction practices and attitudes towards utilisation of drug safety testing services.MethodsData collection took place over the 2019 festival season (June–October). The questionnaire was self-reported. Data was gathered via the online survey, which was promoted through online and social media platforms and outlets. Social media communication methods were used to reach the targeted population more effectively.ResultsA total of 1193 Irish festival attendees over the age of 18 completed an anonymous online survey. Alcohol, MDMA powder/crystals, ecstasy pills and cocaine were the highest reported drugs used by Irish festival attendees. The vast majority of participants reported polysubstance use (86.8%/n = 1036). Forty percent of participants (39.98%/n = 477) reported having had sex following the use of a drug at a festival; of these, 66% (n = 316) said that the sex was unprotected. Most participants (84.0%/n = 1003) engaged in some form of harm reduction when taking drugs at festivals.Overwhelmingly, participants reported a willingness to engage with drug-checking services. The vast majority (96.3%; n = 1149) and would use drug checking services more than three-quarters (75.1%/n = 897) reported that they would use an ‘amnesty bin’ for drugs if it were part of an alert system to notify if dangerous drugs are in circulation. A chi-square test of Independence was conducted to examine whether age and utilisation of drug safety testing service a festival were independent. Moreover, when all cases are taken together, the difference between testing modalities (onsite, offsite and amnesty bin) shows a significant difference p < 001 between those who would use onsite and offsite drug testing facilities.ConclusionThe evidence from this survey indicates that those young people who use drugs at festivals would be prepared to utilise drug checking services and amnesty bins should help inform the public health response to this important area.
Highlights
Festival drug-related deaths are a growing public health concern [1]
In addition to the health risks generally associated with drug use in the nightlife settings, it is known that individuals who engage in higher levels of drug consumption and those who regularly attend clubs and festivals practice riskier sexual behaviours [6]
While the service requires further research before widespread implementation can be considered, the results suggest that service users take the feedback seriously and are willing to engage in harm reduction through drug-checking services
Summary
Festival drug-related deaths are a growing public health concern [1]. At present, there is limited evidence highlighting drug trends and harm-reduction practices among Irish festival attendees. In addition to the health risks generally associated with drug use in the nightlife settings, it is known that individuals who engage in higher levels of drug consumption and those who regularly attend clubs and festivals practice riskier sexual behaviours [6]. The authors found that 30% of the participants who engaged in sexual activity within the last year either did not use condoms ‘at all’ or did not use them ‘most of the time’ [7] These individuals were classified to be at high risk for sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Conclusion The evidence from this survey indicates that those young people who use drugs at festivals would be prepared to utilise drug checking services and amnesty bins should help inform the public health response to this important area
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